Rear Ended a Tahoe

[Malicious Logic]

Well, finally happened to me. Had just spent the last 3 hours or so riding around with some guys I met on a local forum and was making my way home on the highway which is 3 lanes wide. Was near a cop in an unmarked Tahoe on his phone so was keeping it pretty legal as far as speed goes. Right before where my usual exit is, they were doing some late night construction and they started closing off lanes. I was in the slow lane (far right) and they closed that one so I safely merged to the middle. At this point, the cop is in the fast lane, a little ahead of me. I didn't see anymore closures ahead so start to speed backup to the speed limit which catches me up to the Tahoe but then I notice they're closing off the middle lane so I slow down to allow the cop to pass and then signal and head check. Up to this point, traffic was still flowing pretty smooth so this next part definitely took me by surprise. The Tahoe must've started braking during the head check because I changed lanes, look back forward and then realized the Tahoe was getting close fast. As fast as I could process what was going on, I started braking but it wasn't enough. I slammed head on into the back of the now sitting Tahoe.

I had my Drift HD camera on my helmet but unfortunately, the battery was dead so it wasn't recording. I smacked my head right into the back of the Tahoe and then just kinda bounced off onto the road. Cop ended up apologizing later for having to suddenly slam on his brakes but I don't blame him. Been trying to figure out what I could've done differently and the only thing I can come up with was if I had given him extra room. When I had turned back, his brake lights were already on but at night, red lights are red lights and you only know they're braking when they become brighter red lights.

Ended up being taken off in an ambulance and got diagnosed with a contusion in my right knee and an AC separation in my right shoulder. I also have some rash on my right elbow from the inside of the jacket though it's definitely better than road rash. I now see how people can see get rashed with a jacket on though. I was wearing my helmet, gloves, jacket and boots.

Below are pics of the bike. I got to see it when I went by the wrecker place to get my license (cop had left it with them). Actually don't think they'll total it, which is surprising. I haven't heard the official yes or no on that yet though.

[alex.s]

so you rear ended a cop? sucks bro. any injuries?


as far as what you could have done differently. you did your head check and started moving at the same time. if you are going to look backward, dont be headed into a wall (or tahoe)... be headed to the side of it. do your checks, come back to forward looking, and then move into the other lane.

[Panda]

Glad you are okay. I worry about what is happening in front of me during head checks too.

[CalvinAmI]

all i can say is ... 'you were asking for it!'
KIDDING!
Very glad you weren't seriously injured. Accidents happen. Bike accidents happen FAST.
I completely agree with you about brake lights being mistaken for tail lights. If you don't see the change from one to the other your brain can't immediately differentiate between the two. Alex's advice is spot on. Make sure your forward path is safe for you to head-check for at least 1 full second or don't do it. Lane changes count for a huge amount of accidents. You already have information about your current lane. Once you change lanes you have to re-evaluate that new lane completely. Speed, traffic, drivers in front and behind you, etc. If you don't have that information of the new lane, you shouldn't be headed into it. (i use the term "you" meaning all motorcyclists).

Here's to a speedy recovery for you AND your bike!
PS: if they total it you can get the 2013 3hunnuh!

[bfpower]

Glad you're OK. Hey, at least you didn't have to wait for the cops to get there, eh?

[Vergil]

Injuries could have been worse man, glad you're not seriously hurt. Hope the bike isn't totaled!

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by bfpower

Glad you're OK. Hey, at least you didn't have to wait for the cops to get there, eh?

Lol, ya. He was actually an Indian Reserve cop but like right after I hit the ground, I saw a Highway Patrol officer pull up so he must've been in traffic behind us.

And yeah, I think you're right Alex. I made the mistake of assuming the flow of traffic would remain the same and I know better than to assume anything from other vehicles.

Calvin, I was actually hoping they'd total it out after speaking with the insurance lady but then I saw it in person and it doesn't look that bad. Except for the forks possibly, I didn't see any mechanical damage. It was all cosmetic.

[Motofool]

Sorry to read about this accident, Mark.

If your helmet did hit the SUV, please see a doctor soon if you start feeling dizzy or disoriented.

[Peanut_EOD]

Now it's a race bike.

[nickjpass]

+1 for track bike lol

glad you're okay...sorry to hear that though :P get better soon!

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by Peanut_EOD

Now it's a race bike.

Originally Posted by nickjpass

+1 for track bike lol

Lol, only if they total it. Otherwise, I'll just have to pay my $500 and have them fix it.

Originally Posted by Motofool

Sorry to read about this accident, Mark.

If your helmet did hit the SUV, please see a doctor soon if you start feeling dizzy or disoriented.

Will do. I'm actually feeling pretty good despite what happened. Just waiting for the swelling in my leg to go down and my arm to heal up. My main concern lately has been my bike but it looks like I won't hear anything more about it until Monday.

[Malicious Logic]

Well, the jury is in. The bike is totaled. Went and picked up the insurance check today. It's about $800 less than what it could've been because I never repaired the side fairing damage from the previous owner and he apparently had it insured through Progressive so they knew about the previous damage and deducted that from the total.

[choneofakind]

Get an R6! Uphold that ninjette mentality.

Crashed my 250, got an R6

[Malicious Logic]

Lol, that's what you're supposed to do, right?

[choneofakind]

fo sho!

[menikmati]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Get an R6! Uphold that ninjette mentality.

Crashed my 250, got an R6

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

Lol, that's what you're supposed to do, right?

Originally Posted by choneofakind

fo sho!

Hellz yee.

[akima]

Your ninjette has/had so many mods Shame. No major harm to yourself though; that's good. Hope you heal soon.

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by akima

Your ninjette has/had so many mods Shame. No major harm to yourself though; that's good. Hope you heal soon.

Yeah, really sucks being without a bike. Hoping I can get back on 2 wheels again soon. Thanks for the well wishes. My knee is a bit sore along with my shoulder but other than that, I'm pretty good.

Originally Posted by menikmati

Hellz yee.

Lol, as much as as I've teased others for it, the thought has crossed my mind....

[nickjpass]

Get a white one.

[Miles_Prower]

Glad you are ok! I've had some close calls too with head checks. Definitely have to do them quick, and after finishing, then move over. Separate the actions! It's like turn signals lol, don't turn them on as you are moving over, turn them on, pause for a second so people can mentally process them, then move.

Gotta also remember to be extra vigilant in certain areas, construction areas, merges, on/off ramps, intersections. Actually, just pretty much everywhere

[subxero]

^that sucks, I have only been in two vehicle accidents in cars and both were as you describe.

Construction, poorly signed caution of merging several lanes of highway into 1, me trying to be a safe driver and check my blind spot before i merge left, and in that fraction of a second the once smooth moving traffic that was in front of me decided it was time to stop dead. = me rear-ending vehicle in front of me.

What could i have done differently? said EF the guy in my blind spot if he is there I'm EFin comin over!!

frustrating,

Glad to hear you are ok sounds like it could have been much worse

[Malicious Logic]

Yeah, definitely could've been much worse. I'm almost fully healed up now and definitely able to function just fine. I just can't really run on my leg yet and my shoulder still gets sore if I lift something too heavy.

@Miles_Prower Yeah, I think my biggest mistake was that traffic was flowing smoothly since there wasn't a lot of traffic and I trusted that it wouldn't jam up.

[Miles_Prower]

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

Yeah, definitely could've been much worse. I'm almost fully healed up now and definitely able to function just fine. I just can't really run on my leg yet and my shoulder still gets sore if I lift something too heavy.

@Miles_Prower Yeah, I think my biggest mistake was that traffic was flowing smoothly since there wasn't a lot of traffic and I trusted that it wouldn't jam up.

Yeah don't worry it happens to the best of us, all it takes is a fraction of a second. Glad you are doing better though! Yep, never assume anything!

[geeker]

I was rear ended by a Tahoe once. Glad you're alright!

[94fiveohvert]

Where did this happen? We've been having a ton of construction. I've almost been ran over a few times on the new crosstown. I now avoid it because its such a mess.